The Krönungsmesse (German for Coronation Mass) (Mass No. 15 in C major, K. 317; sometimes Mass No. 16), composed in 1779, is one of the most popular of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 17 extant settings of the Ordinary of the Mass. It can be classified as either a Missa brevis (short Mass) or a Missa solemnis (fuller Mass) because although it includes all the sections of the Ordinary, it is relatively short.
The mass in C major was completed on March 23, 1779 in Salzburg. Mozart had just returned to the city after 18 months of fruitless job hunting in Paris and Mannheim, and his father Leopold promptly got him a job as court organist and composer at Salzburg Cathedral. The mass was almost certainly premiered there on Easter Sunday, 4 April 1779. The first documented performance was at the coronation of Francis II as Holy Roman Emperor in 1792.[1]
In the early twentieth century, Johann Evangelist Engl, the archivist of the Salzburg Mozarteum, expressed the view that this mass was composed for and took its name from a remembrance celebration for the crowning of the image of the Virgin at Maria Plain outside Salzburg. This theory has been discounted.[2][3]
The mass appears to have acquired the nickname Krönungsmesse (Coronation Mass) at the Imperial court in Vienna in the early nineteenth century,[4] after becoming the preferred music for royal and imperial coronations as well as services of thanksgiving. The nickname was included in the first edition of the Köchel catalogue of Mozart's works in 1862.[3]
The Kyrie, Gloria and Credo all begin with an engaging rhythm. The soloists contrast with the larger forces of the choir, often as a quartet. Of note in this regard are the central Adagio section of the Credo at "Et incarnatus est", and the surprise of the Benedictus after the chorus has already declaimed the "Hosanna". These musical breaks mimic what is occurring in the mass at these points. Rubrics require the congregation to change from a standing position to a kneeling position at the 'incarnatus' out of respect for the Incarnation of Christ: hence the musical break. Similarly, only the first verse of the 'Sanctus' is sung before the Consecration; the 'Benedictus' verse was sung afterward, according to the rubrics of the Mass. This rubrical division often results in the verses appearing in music as two separate movements, although they are thematically joined. In the Credo, Mozart introduces the trombones for the Crucifixus and using a chromatic fourth in the bass.[8] The sopranosolo of the Agnus Dei exhibits melodic similarities to and may foreshadow "Dove sono", an aria of the Countess from Le nozze di Figaro.[9]: 350
Scoring
The work is scored for SATB soloists and chorus, 2 violins, "Bassi", 2 oboes, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani, 3 trombones (which reinforce the alto, tenor and bass choral parts) and organ. In most modern performances several players are used for some of the orchestral parts. Notable is the lack of violas, typical of music written for Salzburg, and the vague name "basses" for the stave shared by organ, bassoon (specified only in the Credo), cello and double bass. Among the original parts is one for "violone", a slippery term sometimes implying a 16′ bass but also used for the 8′ bass violin.[notes 1]
The solo vocal parts would originally have been sung by members of the choir, and are notated on the same staves as the choral parts in Mozart's autograph score.[1]
The horn parts appear on separate sheets at the end of the autograph score and it is unclear whether they were a later addition by Mozart, although they were composed by him before the end of 1779. The horn parts became separated from the main score, and were omitted from the 1802 edition by Breitkopf & Härtel. The horn parts are sometimes considered as optional.[1][3]
MozartNu (1986–2008), a contemporary dance performance inspired by Mozart's Coronation Mass
Notes
^16′ and 8′ (sixteen-foot and eight-foot) indicate the pitch of an instrument (see Eight-foot pitch), and do not necessarily indicate the physical size of the instrument.
References
^ abcPilkington, Michael (2003). "Preface". Mozart Coronation Mass: Mass in C (K. 317) (Vocal score) (New Novello Choral ed.). London: Novello. ISBN0-85360-994-2.
^Karl Pfannhauser, "Mozarts ‘Krönungsmesse’." Mitteilungen der Internationalen Stiftung Mozarteum 11, no. 3-4 (1963): 3-11
^ abcHoll, Monika (1989). "Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Series I: Sacred vocal works, Work group 1: Masses and Requiem, Section 1: Masses, Volume 4" (PDF). Digital Mozart Edition. Mozarteum Foundation Salzburg. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
^Koo, Samuel (26 June 1985). "Von Karajan, Vienna Philharmonic To Join Pope in Musical Mass". Associated Press. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
^"Papst Johannes Paul II zelebriert feierliches Hochamt im Petersdom mit ..." Library of Congress. 1986. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
^Jasmin Melissa Cameron (2006). "The Crucifixion in Music: An Analytical Survey of the Crucifixus between 1680 and 1800", Contextual Bach Studies No. 1, The Scarecrow Press, Inc. p. 193
"W. A. Mozart, Krönungsmesse (Messe in C-Dur, KV 317)". downloadable performance by the choir of Eisenstadt Cathedral, Austria (2006)
January 21, 2023
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The Kronungsmesse German for Coronation Mass Mass No 15 in C major K 317 sometimes Mass No 16 composed in 1779 is one of the most popular of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart s 17 extant settings of the Ordinary of the Mass It can be classified as either a Missa brevis short Mass or a Missa solemnis fuller Mass because although it includes all the sections of the Ordinary it is relatively short Missa brevis in C majorCoronationMass by W A MozartSalzburg Cathedral where the mass was first performed probably on Easter Sunday Other nameKronungsmesseCatalogueK 317OccasionEasterComposed1779 1779 SalzburgMovements6VocalSATB choir and soloistsInstrumentalorchestracontinuo1 Kyrie source source 2 Gloria source source 3 Credo source source 4 Sanctus source source 5 Benedictus source source 6 Agnus Dei source source 1955 Igor Markevitch director Chor der St Hedwigs Kathedrale Berliner Philharmoniker Maria Stader soprano Sieglinde Wagner contralto Helmut Krebs tenor Josef Greindl bass Problems playing these files See media help Autograph manuscript of the opening page Contents 1 History 1 1 1985 Vatican performance 2 Structure 3 Scoring 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 Sources 8 External linksHistory EditThe mass in C major was completed on March 23 1779 in Salzburg Mozart had just returned to the city after 18 months of fruitless job hunting in Paris and Mannheim and his father Leopold promptly got him a job as court organist and composer at Salzburg Cathedral The mass was almost certainly premiered there on Easter Sunday 4 April 1779 The first documented performance was at the coronation of Francis II as Holy Roman Emperor in 1792 1 In the early twentieth century Johann Evangelist Engl the archivist of the Salzburg Mozarteum expressed the view that this mass was composed for and took its name from a remembrance celebration for the crowning of the image of the Virgin at Maria Plain outside Salzburg This theory has been discounted 2 3 The mass appears to have acquired the nickname Kronungsmesse Coronation Mass at the Imperial court in Vienna in the early nineteenth century 4 after becoming the preferred music for royal and imperial coronations as well as services of thanksgiving The nickname was included in the first edition of the Kochel catalogue of Mozart s works in 1862 3 Musical allusions to this mass appear in the slow movement of the Symphony No 98 and the Harmoniemesse of Mozart s contemporary Joseph Haydn 5 1985 Vatican performance Edit The mass was performed in a liturgical context in St Peter s Basilica in the Vatican on 29 June 1985 with Pope John Paul II officiating and Herbert von Karajan conducting the Coro della Cappella Musicale Pontificia the Sistine Chapel Choir the Wiener Singverein and the Vienna Philharmonic 6 7 Structure EditKyrie Gloria Credo Sanctus Benedictus Agnus DeiThe Kyrie Gloria and Credo all begin with an engaging rhythm The soloists contrast with the larger forces of the choir often as a quartet Of note in this regard are the central Adagio section of the Credo at Et incarnatus est and the surprise of the Benedictus after the chorus has already declaimed the Hosanna These musical breaks mimic what is occurring in the mass at these points Rubrics require the congregation to change from a standing position to a kneeling position at the incarnatus out of respect for the Incarnation of Christ hence the musical break Similarly only the first verse of the Sanctus is sung before the Consecration the Benedictus verse was sung afterward according to the rubrics of the Mass This rubrical division often results in the verses appearing in music as two separate movements although they are thematically joined In the Credo Mozart introduces the trombones for the Crucifixus and using a chromatic fourth in the bass 8 The soprano solo of the Agnus Dei exhibits melodic similarities to and may foreshadow Dove sono an aria of the Countess from Le nozze di Figaro 9 350 Scoring EditThe work is scored for SATB soloists and chorus 2 violins Bassi 2 oboes 2 horns 2 trumpets timpani 3 trombones which reinforce the alto tenor and bass choral parts and organ In most modern performances several players are used for some of the orchestral parts Notable is the lack of violas typical of music written for Salzburg and the vague name basses for the stave shared by organ bassoon specified only in the Credo cello and double bass Among the original parts is one for violone a slippery term sometimes implying a 16 bass but also used for the 8 bass violin notes 1 The solo vocal parts would originally have been sung by members of the choir and are notated on the same staves as the choral parts in Mozart s autograph score 1 The horn parts appear on separate sheets at the end of the autograph score and it is unclear whether they were a later addition by Mozart although they were composed by him before the end of 1779 The horn parts became separated from the main score and were omitted from the 1802 edition by Breitkopf amp Hartel The horn parts are sometimes considered as optional 1 3 See also EditCoronation Mass MozartNu 1986 2008 a contemporary dance performance inspired by Mozart s Coronation MassNotes Edit 16 and 8 sixteen foot and eight foot indicate the pitch of an instrument see Eight foot pitch and do not necessarily indicate the physical size of the instrument References Edit a b c Pilkington Michael 2003 Preface Mozart Coronation Mass Mass in C K 317 Vocal score New Novello Choral ed London Novello ISBN 0 85360 994 2 Karl Pfannhauser Mozarts Kronungsmesse Mitteilungen der Internationalen Stiftung Mozarteum 11 no 3 4 1963 3 11 a b c Holl Monika 1989 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Series I Sacred vocal works Work group 1 Masses and Requiem Section 1 Masses Volume 4 PDF Digital Mozart Edition Mozarteum Foundation Salzburg Retrieved 13 June 2018 Black 2007 pp 198 243 Heartz 2009 p 662 Koo Samuel 26 June 1985 Von Karajan Vienna Philharmonic To Join Pope in Musical Mass Associated Press Retrieved 1 October 2014 Papst Johannes Paul II zelebriert feierliches Hochamt im Petersdom mit Library of Congress 1986 Retrieved 16 May 2017 Jasmin Melissa Cameron 2006 The Crucifixion in Music An Analytical Survey of the Crucifixus between 1680 and 1800 Contextual Bach Studies No 1 The Scarecrow Press Inc p 193 Alwes Chester Lee 2015 Coronation Mass A History of Western Choral Music Vol 1 Oxford University Press pp 348 350 ISBN 978 0 19 936193 9 Sources EditDaniel Heartz 2009 Mozart Haydn and Early Beethoven 1781 1802 New York W W Norton amp Co David Ian Black 2007 Mozart and the Practice of Sacred Music 1781 91 Ph D thesis 2007 Harvard University External links EditMissa in C KV 317 Score and critical report in German in the Neue Mozart Ausgabe Free scores of the Coronation Mass KV 317 in the Choral Public Domain Library ChoralWiki Mass in C major K 317 Scores at the International Music Score Library Project W A Mozart Kronungsmesse Messe in C Dur KV 317 downloadable performance by the choir of Eisenstadt Cathedral Austria 2006 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Coronation Mass Mozart amp oldid 1133992401, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
